ABC Press Release GP Patient Removal, The ABC Call for Fairer Practise

The ABC has sent out a press release regarding the way doctors surgeries operate.

*******

GP Patient Removal, The ABC Call for Fairer Practise

ABC Press Release 31/05/2018                                                                                                                       For Immediate Release

Letters given to offending patients by the NHS state: ‘Practises can request the removal of a person from their list, just as a patient may transfer to the list of another practice without advising their present practice of their intentions’.

The ABC feel this is a system open to abuse by doctors and by hospitals, who might collude with local surgeries to remove difficult or troublesome patients from GP lists who have made a complaint or discharged themselves early from hospital.

A patient should be able to transfer from one doctor to another, like changing broadband suppliers, say the ABC. Doctors are in a contractual relationship to supply goods and services (healthcare and medicines). It does not follow that just as a patient might choose another surgery, a doctor’s surgery can dispense with clients (informally) as implied by this letter - clients that they are being paid to look after by the taxpayer.

The ABC wants to see that rules are standardized across all surgeries, and that patients are informed of these penalties in advance and given the right to a Mandatory Reconsideration. That that the NHS are obliged to inform patients of a formal complaints procedure and of their rights to appeal to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, which is being omitted from NHS letters currently. Also, that the missing two appointments rule is not applied indefinitely.

‘The public is paying for a service’ said ABC founder Simon Collyer. ‘We are concerned that doctor’s surgeries or hospital staff can use the system to get rid of patients that in some cases have had a legitimate cause to complain, If for example. ten years ago, they missed an appointment or two’

‘Surgeries are under pressure, but so are their patients’ said Simon ‘especially those on low incomes’.  ‘The ABC wants to see a system that is fair to all and more business-like’.

<ends>

For more information contact:

Simon Collyer

Founder

The Association of Pension & Benefits Claimants Cic (the ABC)

Telephone: +44 (0) 1206 509623 (DD)

Mobile:       +44 (0) 7486515502

Skype:         simon.collyer163

Email:          This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website:     www.abcorg.net

Notes to Editors:

1. The Association of Pension & Benefits Claimants Cic (the ABC) is an association that aims to provide people receiving state pension and benefits with the knowledge and resources needed to secure meaningful employment. We also strive to ensure that people receiving welfare are well-informed and know what they are entitled to under the welfare system. We also have plenty of followers in the world-of-work and the gig economy too.
2. The ABC are the founders of Work TV (under development).
3. Please visit our website: www.abcorg.net and all articles are here: http://www.abcorg.net/all-news